21M.013J | Fall 2013 | Undergraduate

The Supernatural in Music, Literature and Culture

Calendar

In addition to the discussion topics listed in the table below, this course also included several activities outside of the classroom including screenings, a field trip, and live performances. These are also noted in the table.

SES # TOPICS KEY DATES
1 Introduction  
I. Witches
2 The social history of witch-hunting  
3 Witch-hunting discussion  
4 Introduction to Shakespeare’s Macbeth  
5 Macbeth discussion  

Screening: Throne of Blood. Directed by Akira Kurosawa. Black & White, 110 min. 1957.

6 Shakespeare, Kurosawa and context discussion  
7 Purcell, Dido and Aeneas  
8 Purcell discussion  
9 Berlioz, Symphonie fantastique; Verdi, Macbeth Essay 1 due

Screening: Verdi: Macbeth. Directed by Claude d’Anna. Color, 133 min. 1997.

10 Berlioz, Verdi discussion  
11 Verdi’s Macbeth  
II. Learned Magic
12 Introduction to learned magic and alchemy
Guest: Tara Nummedal
 
13 Visit to MIT Libraries Special Collections  
14 Introduction to Goethe’s Faust Essay 1 revision due

Screening: Faust. Directed by F. W. Murnau. Black & White, 85 min. 1926.
Note: This film was screened with live musical accompaniment.

15 Goethe’s Faust; Murnau  
16 Murnau’s Faust, Marlowe’s Faust, and the Faust puppet play  
17 Faust in music

18 Liszt, Faust Symphony  
III. Ghosts
Field trip to Mt. Auburn Cemetery
19 Henry James and Spiritualism
Guest: Paul Fisher
Essay 2 due
Live performance of Dido and Aeneas by the MIT Chamber Chorus
20 Introduction to James’ The Turn of the Screw  
21 James’ The Turn of the Screw discussion  
22 Music of Britten’s The Turn of the Screw  
23–24 Student presentations preparation  
25–26 Student presentations and discussion Essay 3 due

Course Info

Learning Resource Types
Written Assignments